9-11-11

It's been ten years since the tragedy of 9-11.
and taking time to remember, the lives lost, the innocence lost, the suffering of families who lost loved ones that day or in the subsequent wars...kind of puts my piddly problems in prospective.

His Grace is always sufficient for me.

Only God

In God is our Hope...This is a challenging season...but My God is Greater than any Other...and I rest comfortably in His Will.

My Heart

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone
Nate and April, and their boys in Annapolis this summer....

pictures by her cousin, Seven Set Studios.

ahhhhh I missed them!

We Love Lax

Ahem....
Nathan Maus has been awarded U.S. Asst. Coach of the Year for the State of Michigan!....wow.

It all began a long long time ago, when Nate didn't make the soccer team at his school....he was dissapointed, and a lax coach at the school gave him a lacrosse stick, and said, practice on your own, then come try out for the team...Lacrosse? what was that? we had played baseball, football, basketball, and soccer....
Who knew it would turn out to be "his sport"...He was very good! Of course us rents had a difficult time with the rules at first...you are allowed to hit with the stick...."hey! stop that, that's my kid!" lol but we learned, and came to LOVE the sport of Lacrosse ! I will admit to watching the national championship games when no one else is home....

Nate played High School- All State,
then club College Lax for WMU...
coached, taught camps...He worked for Warrioir Lacrosse (Warrior Sports) in summers, then went full time....

He came back to DLS for his love for teaching...and began coaching with Coach Jolley....and viola! The U.S. Michigan Assistant Coach of the Year!

Now as I watch his boys, Connor & Jordan throw around...
and I think we may have a second generation of players here.
I am well pleased.

Best Daughter Ever

Happy 25th Birthday to the best daughter ever....
You came into our lives with a surprise...
and we have been delighted with you ever since!

You have been an easy child to raise...never giving us any cause for alarm or trouble...always level headed...strong work ethic....doing your best, without feeling the need to be perfect...comfortable in your own skin...



Always caring for others...compassionate...you have a sacrificial love for people, willing to go an extra mile or two, because you are able, a peacemaker- smoothing and soothing ruffles feathers. you will take it upon yourself to make sure people are taken care of properly...meeting needs others shrug at....forsaking sleep to drive a friend somewhere...lining up volunteers to paint a house...using your own money to bless others...giving all but asking little.

A servant....at home, at work, at church...loving people, generous to a fault.
A leader...strong in the Lord, confident, able to leap small buildings with a single jump...always rescueing the rest of us.

A coach....teaching instructing, encouraging, wanting your girls to excell and exceed what you have done. (and pretty sucessfull I might add)
A friend... I am honored to be called friend by you, those of us so honored have experienced a rare and beautiful thing, a friend who is loyal to the end, overlooking our faults, but never our needs. Those who have experienced your friendship- true honest, without guile- know that we have been given a gift that God alone doles out.


Always giving your best, generous to a fault, and asking very little in return.
YOU are the most Amazing Daughter, and Friend I know...
I love you, Princess
Mom

In this home

We believe in living deeply
laughing often and loving always
We believe we were brought together
to support and care for each other.

We believe in celebrating together
our faith, our heritage, our traditions
We believe that everyone’s feelings count
and the uniqueness of each of us
strengthens all of us.

We believe in the power of forgiveness to heal
and the power of love to carry us through
We believe in one another in this family
in this home…

I have this framed in my home....A new baby got me thinking of family today....while looking up good quotes came upon these I hadn't heard before....

Babies are such a nice way to start people.
- Don Herold

We are given children to test us and make us more spiritual.
- George Will

Sometimes it is the person closest to us who must travel the furthest distance to be our friend. ~Robert Brault,

In truth a family is what you make it. It is made strong, not by number of heads counted at the dinner table, but by the rituals you help family members create, by the memories you share, by the commitment of time, caring, and love you show to one another, and by the hopes for the future you have as individuals and as a unit.
- Marge Kennedy

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh!" he whispered. "Yes, Piglet?" "Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you." ~A.A. Milne

When I count my blessings, I count my family over and over again.

Our family is God’s way of taking really good care of us.

What If......

Thank you Lord, for Faith, Family & Friends & Freedom
(and flowers, food,